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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet' 1.

M. D. HUNT-ER. GATE.

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M.D.HUNTER.

GATE.

No. 438,378. Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

UNITED STATES MAYNARD D. HUNTER, OF LOUISIANA, MISSOURI.

GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,378, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed June 19, 1890. Serial No. 355,960. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MAYNARD D. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisiana, in the-county of Pike and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in devices for opening and closing gates; and the object sought to be attainedis to produce a more simple, durable, inexpensive, and efficient construction than has heretofore been known.

A further object is to arrange the parts so that besides constituting a device for operating the gate they also act to hold the latter in closed and wide-open adjustment.

WVith these ends in view my invention consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claim. I

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of a swinging gate shown in closed position in connection with my improved device, and dotted lines show the position of the parts when the gate is half-way open. Fig. 2 is a rear or end View with the gate open; Fig. 3, a plan view, and Fig. 4 a perspective representing the gate as partly open.

The reference-letter a indicates the gate, which is of ordinary construction, and is hinged to the post 1) and shuts against the opposite post 0. An auxiliary post cl is erected a short distance from the post a, and between these two posts is situated a platform f, supported by upright posts f. This platform extends at an an gletoward the gate, and above its upper horizontal beam is situated a rectangular block or weight g, which is connected to said beam and supported by means of side plates or legs h. The latter are preferablyfour in number, and arranged in pairs at the opposite ends of the platform on each side thereof, being pivoted thereto by transverse pins 1', and similarly connected to the block 9 by pins or pivots j at each end.

These plates h are of equal length, and are all parallel, and hence the block g is supported by them parallel to the top beam f of the standard. Hence it will be apparent that the plates form pivotal legs supporting the block, the use of which, in connection with the opening and closing of the gate, willbe explained hereinafter in the description of the operation of the device.

The block g is connected to the gate by a straight rod Z, loosely secured at its opposite ends in eyes on, fastened in said block and gate, respectively, and thus forms a stiff connection between these parts. In the upper face of the block, at the middle of the same, is secured a staple or eye 0, and to the latter a cord 19 is attached, which thence extends to the top of the auxiliary post d, through a similar eye q, and its end 0" is carried to any suitable position where it can be readily grasped in the hand from a position in a vehicle or from on horseback.

The preferred construction of my device having been set forth, I will now proceed to describe its operation.

WVith the gate closed and the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, a draft uponthe cord 19 will elevate the block g; but the latter being jointed to the parallel supporting legs or plates h, which are pivotally connectedto the stationary standard, the block will be drawn back as well as up, and hence, through the medium of the rod Z, pulls back with it the gate, and thus throws open the same. The pull on the cord should be strong enough to throw the block back of a dead-center- 1;. e., that position of the parts when the legs 71 are vertical-and when this point has been passed it will be readily seen that the weight of the block will complete the opening of the gate, as it will drop back and down upon the top beam of the standard,and thus pull open the gate to its farthest extent and hold it in this position until the weight is lifted. In closing the gate the cord will be again pulled and the weight lifted until it passes the deadcenter, when it will drop forward and down and push the gate shut through the medium of the connecting-rod, and also hold it in this position. Hence it will be apparent that the weight and the supporting-legs form a valuable arrangement without the operatingcord, as when a pedestrian passes through the gate he will only open it part way, and the weight will then act to automatically close it after him, and only when the gate is thrown wide open is it necessary to start it shut by hand or by use of the cord. Thus a partly-automatic closer is produced, which also acts to open the gate and hold it in the latter position.

It is evident that other arrangements than the cord 12-such as a system of levers or the like-could be employed with equal advantage to lift the weight, and it is also evident that many slight changes which might suggest themselves to a skilled mechanic could be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my intention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction herein shown; but,

Having thus described my invention, what 1 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters I Patent, is

The combination, with a gate, of a standard erected on the ground, a block of suitable material located above said standard, parallel supporting-legs of equal length pivotally connecting said standard and block, whereby the latter remains in a horizontal position and acts as a weight to drop upon said standard,

and a rod connecting one end of said block 

